Garment-waist closure.



No. 659,459. Patented Oct. 9, I900. J. STONE.

GARMENT WAIST CLOSURE.

(Applicatiun filed Mar. 26, 1900.

(No Model.)

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NITED STATES ATENT Erica.

JAMES STONE, OF JACKSON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE BORTREE CORSET COMPANY, OF

SAME PLACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 659,459, dated October 9, 1900.

Application filed March 26, 1900.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES STONE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jackson, in the county of Jackson and State ofMichig-an, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Garments, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates particularly to articles of wearing-apparel-such as skirts, petticoats, and the like-wherein a yoke forms a part of or may be used in connection with the garment; and the invention resides in the peculiar formation of the yoke whereby it may be lengthened or shortened uniformly of its width to vary the waist size of the garment.

The invention further consists in the novel type of adjusting means employed and in the peculiar construction of the adjusting mech anism, as will be more fully hereinafter described,and shown in the drawings,in Which-- Figure l is a view of the top portion of a garment which for the purpose of illustrating the invention is in the form of a skirt, showing in perspective my improved yoke attached thereto. Figs. 2 and 3 are sectional views showing one adjusting device in its opened and closed position.

In the drawings thus briefly described the reference-letter A designates a skirt cut in such manner as to admit of an enlargement of several inches on each side, and B is the yoke, attached to the skirt in any suitable manner. In construction the yoke comprises a strip or band of material continuous from end to end and of a width to extend from the waist to and preferably partly over the hips of the wearer. To allow the band to conform to the lines of the figure, I cut the stripinto the form of a sector of a circle, shaping the top and bottom edges thereof into concentric arcs, as shown. The ends of the yoke may be con nected together in any suitable manner, as by a series of buttons 0 on the yoke end 5 and a corresponding number of buttonholes d on the meeting ends a.

The adjusting mechanism for varying the size of the yoke consists, preferably, of two adjusting devices 0 and D, each comprising a pair of spaced flaps or flies and a lacing engaging the flaps, as shown. Each pair of flaps Serial No. 10,173. \NO model.)

extends entirely across the yoke, and the flaps are arranged radially upon the latter, so that when drawn together by the lacing the yoke will be varied in length uniformly of its width.

The letter E designates one flap member of the adjusting device 0, located immediately adjacent to the buttonholes d and, as shown, is stitched to the yoke in such manner as to cover the edges of the tapes cabout said buttonholes. The stitching extends to about the middle of the flap, leaving substantiallya half of the latter loose from theyoke, and in the loose portion is inserted a series of eyelets f.

F designates the complementary flap or fly,

formed by doubling the yoke upon itself to form a fold and stitching the fold to the yoke, as illustrated. The flap described is arranged at some distance beyond the flap E and is provided with a series of eyelets h, corresponding in number and arrangementto the eyelets f. The adjusting device upon the opposite end of the yoke (designated by the reference-letter D) is substantially the same in construction as the adjusting device just described, comprising fiaps G and H, and each pair of flaps is engaged by a lacing, such as I.

In order that the yoke may have a smoother fit at the back and that a firm backing will be provided for the folded portion of the yoke caused by the adjustment, I provide a reinforcement J for each adjusting device extending over a portion of the yoke intermediate each pair of flaps. This reinforcement is formed by an overlying thickness of cloth j, covering about one-half the distance from the flap upon the end of the yoke to its complementary flap, and an extra thickness of stiff material it, which is arranged between the cloth J and the body of the yoke, as plainly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The overlying thickness of material in each adjusting device terminates, preferably, under the first flap and is secured to the yoke by means of stitching. In order that the reinforcing -section described shall have a smooth appearance and to prevent it from puffing, each reinforcement is traversed with several rows of stitching,

the desired size is obtained, the soft portion of the yoke between the two flies in each case being doubled upon itself, and the flaps are then held together by the tying of the lacing.

From the foregoing description of my invention it will be seen that I have provided a yoke which on account of its peculiar form maybe properly fitted to the figure. Also by arranging the flaps upon the yoke in the manner set forth I have provided means whereby through the agency of the lacing the length of the yoke may be varied uniformly of its width. Thus the adjusting of the size of the yoke may be readily and easily efiected and the garment at the waist and hips will have the proportions usual in a non-adjustable garment.

What I claim as my invention is In an adjustable yoke, the combination with a strip or band of material cut into the form of a sector of a circle and having its top and bottom edges concentric arcs, means for securing the strip ends together, means for adj usting the length of the strip uniformly of its width comprising two spaced and radiallyarranged flaps upon and extending entirely across the strip and a lacing engaging said flaps, and a reinforcement for the adjusting means,.consisting of a layer of material extending over and stitched at its edges to a portion of the strip intermediate the flaps, and a reinforcing-layer of stiff material intermediate the stitched layer and the strip, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES STQNE. Witnesses:

S. H. CAMP, L. O. CHANDLER. 

